Frank



(No Modem l I F. W. OFELDT.

STEAM WHISTLE.

` No. 532,088. Patented Jan. 8, 1895.

Y UNITED STATES PATENT grrrcn."

FRANK. W. OFELDT, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE MARINEVAPOR ENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STEAM-WHISTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 532,088, dated Januarys, 189e.

\ Application led December 23, 1893- Serial No. 494,590. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK. W. OFELDT, of Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steam- Whistles; and I do hereby declare the followingtobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to an improvement in steam whistles, the objectbeing to provide improved means for the generation and control of steamfor use in blowing Whistles; and it consists yina boiler adapted toreceive water and have steam generated therein, a pipe leading out ofthis boiler, and means for heating the boiler whereby steam is generatedin connection with a whistle to which the steam' generated is applied.

It further consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described, and

` pointed outin the claims.

My invention comprehends devices consisting of a cold water tankconnected with a steam generator or boiler wherein the water circulatesunder an elastic pressure into the boiler through a suitable pipe, theboiler being provided with a whistle or alarm device, and the steamtherein being` adapted if the pressure becomes excessive to force itselfby t its own pressure backward toward thecold water tank and becomecondensed, whereby the apparatus is automatic in its action andabsolutely safe in its operation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a view showing the entireapparatus connected together for operating the whistle, and Fig. 2 visan enlarged sectional View.

A represents a boiler it being located in some convenient heatingchamber s'uch as a retort B as shown where heat is generated by means ofa burner C or it might be located in any other heating device or chambersuitable for the purpose, the object being to generate steam in theboiler. Whenv a retort is employed such as the`one shown a series ofcoils of pipes D, D, may be wound loosely around the boiler forgenerating vapor in the retort. This construction is more particularlydescribed and claimed in a separate application concurrently pending. Itis merely alluded to here as the pipes D, D, have a tendencyto assist inconcentrating and radiating heat and in consequence add to theefficiency of the invention.

Immediately surrounding the boilerA is a steam pipe a which is incommunication with one end of the boiler and is coiled around the latterfrom this end to the other, the purpose of this pipe a, being to conductthe steam from the boiler to the whistle and at the same time to causethe steam in its passage through it to become superheated and dry. Thecoils of pipe a are not close together so that the heat from the burner:is not shut offfrom the boiler A and the coils of pipe a eachzrestingupon and surrounding the boiler, not only receive heat from the burnerdirect but also from the boiler itself so that the su perheating issuccessfully accomplished.

The superheating coil or pipe may be omitted if desired, and the whistleconnected directly with the .boiler A, as in most cases the temperatureof the boilerlmay be maintained sufficiently great to obviate thenecessity of any special superheating of the steam.

The whistle itself is operated in the usual way and hence it requires nodescription, it simply being provided with a valve under the control ofthe engineer for the escape of steam. s

lWater is supplied to the boiler A from a tank E, the latter beingrefilled when occasion requires it. A condensing pipe e leads from thetank'down through the water beneath the boat when the whistle is used ona boat or through some other condenser when used in any other place.

Air pump F is connected with the tank E and by means of it a suitablepressure of air is created in the tank to cause an automatic ilow ofwater from the latter into the boiler A, so that the boiler is alwayssupplied with an adequate amount of water for the generation of steam.In this way of courseas soon as steam is blown 0E in blowing the whistlemore water flows in at once to supply the boiler, and on the other handany excessive pressure of steam in the boiler causes a back pressureupon the water in condensing pipe IOO e andrin this manner the steam ndsescape back through the condensing pipe where it' 'If the tank E ismadesuflciently'large Ait might of itself actas the .means forcondensing the steam which may be forced backward from the boiler,though in the case of launches y it is advisable to employ thecondensing coil arranged upon the bottom of the boat.

Slight changes and variations might be made in the various details ofthe invention' without departure from the spirit andvscope of myinvention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exactconstruction herein set forth, but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In awhistle, the combination with alleating chamber,.and a steamboiler, of a superheating steam pipe leading from the boiler and adaptedto conduct steam from the boiler to the whistle, and a condenserconnected with the boiler, substantially as set forth. 2. In awhistle,the combination with alleatin'g chamber, and a steam boiler, of asuperheating steam pipe leading from'the boiler and adapted to conductsteam fromlthe boiler to the whistle, a water tank, and a condensingpipe extending from the tank to the boiler, substantially as set forth.

3. In awhistle, the combination with aheating chamber, and a boiler, ofa superheating steam pipe leading 'from the boiler and adapted toconduct steam from the boiler to the Whistle, a water tank, a pipeextending from the tank to theboiler, and an .air pump for creating apressure of air in the tank, substantially as set forth.

el'. The combination in a steam generator, a pipe leading therefrom andterminating in va Whistle, an air tight cold water tank having an airspace above the Water, a water `pipe leading from the tank below thewater level and opening into the generator, and means to create anair-pressure in the .water tank approximately equal to the maximumpressure allowable in the generator, whereby if said pressure isexceeded thewater is driven back from the generator into the cold waterltank.

5. The combination of a steam whistle, a

. steam generator or boiler, a pipe connecting the generator or boilerwith the whistle, a wa- -ter lreservoir in ,constantfree communicationwith the generator or boiler, and means to cause the water to freelycirculate between the reservoir and boiler in both directions underelastic pressure. l

6. The combination Vof asteam whistle, a steam .generator or boiler, apipe connecting the generator or boiler with the whistle, awaterreservoir in constant free communication with the generator or boiler,and means to cause the cold water to freely circulate between thereservoir and boiler in both directions -under `maintained air pressure.

7. The combination of a steam whistle, a steam generator orboiler, apipe connecting the generator or boiler with the whistle,a water tank,means to .force the water into the boiler or generator under pressure,and a communication between the tank .and generator or boiler to permitthe free flow of the hot water and steam backward toward the tank incase of an excessive pressure of steam.

8. The combination of a steam whistle,.a steam generator or boiler, apipe connecting the generator or boiler withthe whistle, a waterreservoir in constant free communication withthe generator or boiler,means to cause the water to freely circulate between the reservoir andboiler in both directions under elastic pressure, and a condenser tocondense the steam which may be forced back from the boiler orgenerator.

9. The herein described method of ,maintaining a continued pressure ofsteam for 0perating a steam whistle at intervals of time which consistsin supplying a boiler upon which a steam whistle is arranged with waterunder an elastic pressure with freedom of circulation into and out ofthe boiler in accordance with the pressure contained therein, andcondensing the steam forced backward 'from the boiler toward the watersupply when the pressure within the boiler becomes abnormally high,whereby a supply of water is delivered to the boiler automatically inquantities just sufficient to supply the requirement of thesteamwhistle.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

FRANK. WV. OFELDT.

Vitnesses:

C. S. DRURY, GEO. F. DowNING.

